Government decided to lift the restrictions on movement in Uusimaa

In its negotiations yesterday, Tuesday 14 April 2020, the Government decided to immediately lift the restrictions on movement in the region of Uusimaa. The Government will issue a decree to that effect at the government plenary session, which will begin today at 13.00. The decree will enter into force and the restrictions will be lifted immediately after the session.

The legal grounds for continuing the temporary restrictions on movement are no longer considered to exist. The powers provided under section 118 of the Emergency Powers Act may be exercised only if it is necessary to do so.

In making the decision to lift the restrictions, the Government has relied on the assessment of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare concerning the development of the epidemic. 

When the travel restrictions entered into force on 28 March, COVID-19 incidence in the region of Uusimaa was increasing significantly faster than in the rest of the country. While Uusimaa still has the highest number of COVID-19 cases, the gap with the rest of the country has narrowed.

The differences between municipalities in the number of cases are also noticeable and, to a large extent, do not reflect the regional boundaries. During the past week, the incidence in some hospital districts has been, in relative terms, as high or higher than in the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa.

However, the Government continues to recommend that all unnecessary travel, such as leisure travel, be avoided also in Finland. Other measures and restrictions to limit the epidemic and protect the population must also be continued and followed. 

Inquiries: Timo Lankinen, Permanent State Under-Secretary, tel. +358 295 160 300, Prime Minister's Office, and Tero Kuremaa, Director-General, tel. +358 295 488 340, Ministry of the Interior